Air-cooled still



Patented Mar. 23, 1926;

UNITED srrs g 1,577,675? rsr OFFICE.

EDWIN c. BALLMAN, or s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIG'NOR 'ro JOHN H. GASSIDY, or s'r.

, LOUIS, rssonnr.

AIR-COOLEDSTILL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN C. BALLMAN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented the new and useful Improvement in Air-Cooled Stills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stills, and more particularly, to stills of the type adapted to be cooled by the surrounding atmosphere to condense the vapors.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a condenser, adapted more particularly for the distillation of water and which has provisions for causing sufficient air to mingle with the steam so as to aerate the distilled water, and render it palatable as a drinking water.

Another object of this invention is to provide an air cooled condenser which is simple in construction, effective in 1ts action and cheap to manufacture.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the figure is a longitudinal vertical section illustrating an embodiment of this invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the still comprises a boiler 1 and a condenser 2, both of which are constructed of sheet metal, such as tinned copper. The boiler 1 has a rim 3, while the condenser 2 has a bead 4, adapted to rest on the rim 3 and providing an extension 5 to cause the condenser to fit the boiler. The boiler has an inlet 6 covered by an element 7 attached to the boiler and providing a funnel. The condenser has a conical top 8 and is suitably beaded to give the desired strength and both boiler and condenser are seamed in such a manner as to permit the application of considerable heat without causing leakage.

The condenser has fixed therein a short distance above its lower end an annular shelf which is narrow and directed upwardly to provide a large opening to the condenser and to also provide an annular gutter inside of the condenser. Draining the gutter is an outlet 10 which is attached to the condenser and additionally supported by a brace 11.

The surface and volume of the condenser is large compared to the surface and volume of the boiler; accordingly, the condenser furnishes a large radiating surface exposed to v the air. When, therefore, water or any other liquid is placed in the boiler and heated by any suitable heating means, such as by setting the device on a gas, oil or coal stove, so that the water in the boiler just about si1nmers and so that steam is just about visible from the outlet 10, the rising vapors Will be condensed by the cooling action of the surrounding atmosphere and the condensate will-collect in the annular gutter and will be drained off through the outlet 10. Dur ing the distilling operation, air will enter the inlet 6' and become heated and this air will rise in the condenser and mingle'with the steam or vapor, the outlet 10 providing an air outlet for any excess air; accordingly, this allows suflicient sterilized air to mingle with the steam so as to make a distilled water which is not only chemically pure, but aerated and, therefore, water. The element 7 as heretofore described provides a funnel whereby the boiler may be filled. The detachable connection between the condenser and the boiler permits the entire device to be readily cleaned. Y

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction without palatable as a drinking.

departing from the spirit of this invention;

it is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details described and shown.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1..An air-cooled still, comprising, a pot open at thev top adapted to provide a boiler, an enlarged can open at its bottom and closed at its top and substantially unobstructed within so as to provide for free circulation of steam and air throughout the interior thereof, said can being adapted for setting on said pot so as to provide an air condenser, a narrow gutter on and extending along the inner wall of said can near its bottom adapted to collect the condensate but arranged so as to leave the steaminlet opening from said pot substantially unobstructed, an outlet connection on said can and to said gutter adapted to drain the condensate therefrom, and means for admitting air to aerate the condensate. v 2. An air-cooled still, comprising, a potopen at the top adapted to provide a boiler, an enlarged can open at its bottom and closed at its top and substantially unobstructed Within so as to provide for free circulation of steam and air throughout the interior thereof, said can being adapted for setting on said pot so as to provide an air condenser, a narrow gutter on and extending along the inner wall of said can near its bottom adapted to collect the condensate but arranged so as to leave the steam inlet opening from said pot substantially unobstructed, an outlet connection on said can and to said gutter adapted to drain the condensate therefrom, and an air and liquid inlet to said pot adapted to admit air for circulation in said condenser to aerate the condensate.

In testlmony whereof I aflix my signature this 21st day of June, 1919.

EDWIN O. BALLMAN. 

